The USA TODAY Oscar Oracle is a mathematical index designed to predict nominees and winners of Academy Awards in the six most prominent categories: picture, actor and actress, supporting actor and actress, and director. (Related chart: Consult the Oscar Oracle to see who's leading the big races)

As a result of the Golden Globe nominations, several films get a boost in Oscar Watch, which tracks contenders for the Academy Awards' top prize: Babel, Letters From Iwo Jima and Little Miss Sunshine. Oscar Watch today begins incorporating rankings from the Oscar Oracle, in its seventh season, which uses awards and nominations from critics and Hollywood guilds to forecast Oscar success.

The Broadcast Film Critics Association spread the wealth in its nominations for the 12th annual Critics' Choice Awards. The Departed, Babel, Little Miss Sunshine and Dreamgirls each received seven nominations. All four are up for best picture, along with Blood Diamond, Letters From Iwo Jima, Little Children, Notes on a Scandal, The Queen and United 93.

Brokeback Mountain is charting new frontiers. The story of a pair of Wyoming cowboys who fall in love is sweeping top honors among major critics groups for best film and director (Ang Lee). On Tuesday, it picked up seven Golden Globe nominations, more than any other film.